From homosexual law reform to drag kings; from HIV/AIDS to lesbian artists; from old age to movie-going ...gay and lesbian life in Australia has always been a vibrant canvas. In this collection, the sixth in the Gay and Lesbian Perspectives series, established and newly emerging Australian historians cast an eye over the past hundred years or so. Drawing on sources a diverse as government records, police and court documents, archives and memoirs and oral histories from across the nation, they have unearthed stories that will surprise and delight and inform. These are histories that arent taught at school but should be!

Most people have heard of the United States' infamous 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, yet few know about Australia's own history of LGBT military service. In Serving in Silence? lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender servicemen and women share their personal stories for the first time. The book explores the emotional stress they experienced hiding their sexuality or gender identity under official bans, as well as the challenges facing those who have served openly in the last 25 years. Tracing the ADF's transformation to the inclusive organisation it is today, Serving in Silence? also highlights the pivotal role of military service in the lives of many LGBT Australians and how they have served their country with distinction.